Advocacy

CLINIC wants to remind members of how its Advocacy Section can provide support and assistance. This document outlines the advocacy related services CLINIC can provide as well as the channels through which CLINIC works with officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resolve individual case and systemic problems.

In just over a year, Dana Davenport has emerged as a standout immigration advocate in Maryland. Driven pointedly by her faith and her genuine desire to help others, Davenport reflects on the 2016 legislative session, specifically highlighting which strategies worked best and how support from CLINIC led to many successes.

With only 12 states in regular session, positive legislative trends related to education and professional licensing have emerged in recent months. North Carolina proposed the Tuition Fairness Act (HB 1081) that would offer in-state tuition rates to students that have either completed three years of high school or obtained high school diploma in the state.

The National Visa Center (NVC) recently offered a preview of the NVC’s new Online IV Module to CLINIC affiliates. In a special session at Convening, participants had the opportunity preview the pages of the online module, learn how an applicant may establish an account, pay fees, and see how civil documents may be uploaded, tracked and submitted to NVC.

In late May- early June, the CARA Pro Bono Project assisted 21 families who were picked up by DHS in the latest round of enforcement actions targeting Central American women the children. The stories of the 21 families and the due process obstacles they have encountered were captured in a report produced by the CARA project.

On June 23, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its tie (4-4) decision in the United States v. Texas litigation. The Court’s split decision means that the preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court in Texas remains in effect and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) remain on hold while the case is returned to the lower court.

What is the National Visa Center? The National Visa Center (NVC) functions as the centralized processing agent before an immigrant visa application is processed by a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Specifically, NVC handles the following petitions: I-130; I-140; I-730; I-129F; I-600/A; I-800; I-360; and I-526.

Fees for more than three dozen immigration and naturalization applications or related services are proposed to increase by as little as $15 to as much as hundreds of dollars for some common categories.

After more than 15 years of lobbying by CLINIC and its affiliates, USCIS has announced plans to open additional field offices in the Southeast. Currently, there are only a couple of USCIS offices in the Southeast: Memphis, Tennessee; Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida.

Nearly 200 immigration reform advocates from 27 states gathered outside of Washington Feb. 3-5 for the Committee for Immigration Reform Implementation (CIRI)’s second Ready America Conference. The advocates came from 27 states, representing immigration legal service providers, labor unions, community organizers, consulates, philanthropy and social service providers. CLINIC co-chaired the five-track conference, which included a plenary session with USCIS Director Leon Rodriguez and six open forum sessions organized by CIRI’s Advocacy Working Group.

March marked the one year anniversary of the CARA Pro Bono Representation Family Detention Project, which focuses on ending family detention and ensuring representation for immigrant families who are processed through the family detention facilities. Nearly 8,000 families had a CARA volunteer attorney help them start the process of seeking asylum. More than 700 volunteers from all over the country -- lawyers, paralegals, translators, social workers, medical professionals, teachers and more -- put their lives on hold for a week or more and traveled to Texas to help protect families. Combined, they contributed more than $6.75 million in volunteer hours.

In early January, the Department of Homeland Security began targeting for removal Central American families and unaccompanied children who had turned 18. CLINIC engaged in extensive national and local advocacy, with staff from the Advocacy and TLS offices participating in national webinars about the actions. The CLINIC advocacy team conducted webinars for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, and provided advocacy support for communities in Arkansas, California, Ohio and Virginia. DHS continues to target immigrant families and unaccompanied children who have turned 18 while in the United States.

Leading up to the Supreme Court’s April 18 oral argument in U.S. v. Texas, CLINIC was one of more than 325 immigrant-serving agencies joining an amicus (friend of the court) brief. Selected stories highlighting the benefits of permitting implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA were featured in the brief filed March 8 by CLINIC and civil rights, labor and social service organizations. The brief urged the court to uphold the Obama administration’s executive actions.

CLINIC continues to fight against the government’s practice of detaining immigrant mothers and their children. CLINIC, through its work in the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project has been especially active in the national fight to eliminate large scale family detention centers. CLINIC and CARA have been leading advocacy efforts to challenge unlawful asylum, detention, and deportation policies of DHS. Such advocacy activities have included submitting a complaint to the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) regarding inadequate language access for indigenous language speakers and filing a letter to high-level DHS officials about glaring due process violations that have occurred since the court order of October 23rd.

The Obama Administration appealed the 5th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals ruling from Texas v. U.S. to the Supreme Court on November 20, 2015. The Supreme Court announced on January 19th, that it will take up the case which will likely be argued in April and decided by the last week in June. While the outcome of the case is pending, CLINIC recommends that qualified legal immigration practitioners continue client screenings to assist those eligible for other immigration benefits. Please see CLINIC’s useful timeline on the President’s Executive Action on Immigration

From January 2- 4, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted enforcement actions targeting immigrants who arrived to the United States after January 1, 2014, and had final orders of removal. DHS picked up 121 individuals in local communities in Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. CLINIC responded to these action by writing a a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, condemning the targeting of Central American women and children and urging an end to the practice, putting together a a backgrounder explaining the recent actions and what to do in your community, and, through its partnership with the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project, help receive stays of deportation from the Board of Immigration Appeals in twelve cases, affecting thirty-three women and children. CLINIC continues to monitor this issue and will appreciate hearing what is occurring in your community.

On September 30th, 2015, Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR), a stop-gap measure which continues funding the government at current levels and keeps the government open until December 11, 2015. The CR reauthorized the Special Immigrant Non-Minister Religious Worker Program as well as three other immigration-related programs, the Conrad 30 Program, the EB-5 Program, and the E-Verify Program until December 11, 2015. Finding a more permanent extension for the Special Immigrant Non-Minister Religious Worker Program remains an ongoing issue for CLINIC Advocacy.

In connection with the State of Texas v. U.S. litigation, USCIS began recalling over 2,600 grants of Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (DACA) and work authorization in May 2015. USCIS increased its recall efforts dramatically following a Court Order issued on July 7. CLINIC officially registered its opposition to the recall and any resulting terminations. CLINIC worked closely with affiliates to support, advise, and assist them and their clients to understand and take necessary actions as well as to responsibly spread the word in the community. CLINIC and its affiliate efforts helped result in 99.2 percent compliance with the recall. Of the 22 terminations of status issued, 12 were reinstated.

Despite continued efforts by advocates, the government’s practice of detaining immigrant mothers and their children continues. CLINIC has been especially active in the national fight to eliminate large scale family detention centers. In late March 2015, CLINIC partnered with four other networks to form the CARA Pro Bono Project.Through this project CLINIC has been providing legal services for detained families while leading advocacy and litigation efforts to challenge unlawful asylum, detention, and deportation policies.

As a response to the humanitarian crisis of children arriving at our Southern border, Congress considered legislation that would strip the protections created by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008. These changes would allow the United States to return Central American children to their home countries without meaningful screening to determine whether they are victims of trafficking or fear persecution.

This webinar is for current and aspiring immigrant advocates on a grassroots level. This webinar provides an overview of the role each level of government plays in regulating the lives and livelihoods of immigrants.

Taking the opportunity to submit further comments to USCIS about the DACA application and renewal process, CLINIC commended the agency for the changes it did make, including extending the DACA renewal application window to 150 days, simplifying the education-related questions, and streamlining the application requirement for renewal applicants. CLINIC also encouraged USCIS to make additional changes to the form and instructions to help both initial and renewal applicants better navigate the application process. Among the chief concerns for CLINIC and its affiliates is ensuring that DACA

S1696 would establish driving privilege cards for New Jersey residents who cannot prove lawful presence in the United States. It was introduced in the New Jersey Senate on March 17, 2014 by Senators Joseph Vitale and Teresa Ruiz and referred to the Senate Transportation Committee. It is identical to A2135, introduced in the New Jersey Assembly on January 16, 2014.

On January 16, 2014, USCIS’s Nebraska Service Center (NSC) held a stakeholder engagement on issues related to processing of refugee and asylee petitions. Select questions and answers from the teleconference are below. Please note that this teleconference was part of a series of informal monthly stakeholder calls held by the NSC. If you wish to participate in the monthly calls, email CEO.NSC2@USCIS.DHS.GOV with your contact information, and you will be added to the center’s mailing list.

The following are the unofficial minutes from a teleconference with the Nebraska Service center on February 13, 2014. Please note that this teleconference was part of a series of informal monthly stakeholder calls held by the NSC. If you wish to participate in the monthly calls, email CEO.NSC2@USCIS.DHS.GOV with your contact information, and you will be added to the center’s mailing list.

Driver’s licenses play a critical role in American society and enable us to participate more fully and productively in our communities. Most of us rely on cars to get ourselves and our families to work, school, the hospital, the grocery store, and church. In addition to facilitating transportation, driver’s licenses enhance public safety by ensuring that all drivers are trained, tested, and qualify for automobile insurance.

On November 6, 2013, USCIS held a stakeholder engagement on its new 2D barcode technology. The new technology is part of the agency’s Forms Improvement Initiative, intended to enhance the agency’s ability to conduct intake at the lockboxes quickly and accurately.

With the support of the Four Freedoms Fund, and in conjunction with other immigrant right organizations,[1] CLINIC is tracking trends in immigration enforcement abuse in order to form a litigation strategy. To support this goal, CLINIC is asking affiliates to share information about cases that may be in need of litigation before state, local, and federal court systems.

Each year CLINIC presents its Administrative Advocacy Priorities for the coming year to the board of directors for review and approval. These priorities serve as a guide for the work of CLINIC’s Advocacy section and the Executive Office in its dealings with USCCB, the federal government, and nongovernmental partners. The full list of Administrative Advocacy Priorities follows.

Webinar held on 11/1/13 This webinar will look at the legislation and politics which will shape the debate on immigration reform in the House of Representatives, explaining the Church’s position on individual bills and the strategy for winning final legislation the Church can support.

On Thursday, October 10, 2013, the Nebraska Service Center held a teleconference. Please see CLINIC’s notes from the call that touched on the following topics:

I-765:

1. Can you please cover reinstatement and STEM OPT? The specific scenario is this – Student on OPT forgot to mail the application for STEM OPT extension in a timely manner (the application was one week late). USCS denied the STEM OPT extension. Is there such a thing as reinstatement of OPT status?

These webinars are for immigrant and social justice advocates, legal service providers, faith leaders, community organizers, and others working with and on behalf of immigrants and will address the following important issues:

Upcoming Webinars

State and Local Immigration Laws: Recap of 2013 and Outlook for 2014

Friday, November 22, 2013

This webinar will review some of the anti-immigrant and pro-immigrant laws passed by states in 2013 on topics including state-issued identification and driver’s licenses, refugee resettlement, immigration enforcement, and access to higher education. Panelists will also address the state-level immigration policy outlook for 2014.

Past Webinars

This webinar will look at the legislation and politics which will shape the debate on immigration reform in the House of Representatives, explaining the Church’s position on individual bills and the strategy for winning final legislation the Church can support. Panelists will discuss proper messaging for the House debate and share tactics for getting these messages out to influence a positive final outcome.

Recent Trends in State and Local Immigration Enforcement

Friday, November 8, 2013

This webinar will provide an overview of collaboration between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement agencies through the Criminal Alien Program, 287(g) Partnerships, and Secure Communities as well as the use of ICE detainers to identify potentially deportable individuals in state or local custody. Panelists will address how these programs harm American families and communities and suggest ways to advocate on a state and local level against their continuation.

Immigration Detention: Perspectives from D.C. and the Field

Friday, November 15, 2013

This webinar will address immigration detention, including the federal mandate requiring the detention of certain immigrants, the recent rise of immigration detention, and alternatives to detention. Additionally, the panel will include local perspectives on the effects of detention facilities on communities and how local stakeholders can help combat this national phenomenon.

In 2010, Arizona passed a law called “SB 1070.” But Arizona’s police officers were not allowed to enforce some sections of this law because courts prevented them from doing so. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court decided whether those sections of SB 1070 should stay blocked.

On April 25, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Arizona v. United States, a case involving the legal challenge to Arizona's restrictive state immigration enforcement law "SB 1070." The U.S.

On Monday, June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its 5-3 ruling on Arizona's state immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. What did the Court hold? What does it mean? What are the potential ramifications for "copycat" laws in other states? What's next for advocacy?

Welcoming the Stranger through Immigrant Integration discusses five state-level legislative initiatives that promote the integration of immigrants into our states and communities. The integration measures discussed include legislation that creates tuition equity for all; strengthens human trafficking laws; invests in English language instruction; uses the budget process to integrate immigrants; and enhances access to financial aid and protection against immigration consultant fraud.

Overview: HB 1175 creates state-level penalties (suspending and revoking business licenses) for state employers who knowingly or intentionally hire undocumented workers; it also requires employers in the state to use E-Verify starting July 1, 2013.

Last August, the Obama Administration began implementing its Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program – a policy through which certain undocumented individuals receive temporary permission to stay in the U.S. for two years as well as the right to apply for employment authorization. After some initial resistance to issuing driver’s licenses to DACA grantees, most states eventually decided to do so. At this time, only two states – Arizona and Nebraska – continue to deny state driver’s licenses or identification cards to DACA recipients.

Get ready for your day on Capitol Hill! Kevin Appleby, Director of USCCB's Office of Migration Policy and Public Affairs and Allison Posner, CLINIC's Director of Advocacy will speak about the Church's position on immigration reform and how to frame your "asks" when speaking with your representatives. We will also review the agenda for Advocacy Day and provide practical tips about getting around the Hill and what to expect from the day.

On January 10, 2013, CLINIC shared comments on USCIS’s policy memo, “Age-Out Protection for Derivative U Nonimmigrant Status Holders: Pending Petitions, Initial Approvals, and Extension of Status.” CLINIC welcomes the issuance of the guidance, as this policy will provide much needed security for the immigrant crime victims and their families that CLINIC members serve. We are encouraged by USCIS’ statement that the preservation of family unity is a benefit to law enforcement. The policy provides important protections for U visa derivatives who age out after the approval of the principal’

On January 10, 2013, CLINIC shared comments with USCIS on its guidance entitled “Eligibility for Employment Authorization upon Approval of a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self- Petition; and, Eligibility for Employment Authorization for Battered Spouses of Certain Nonimmigrants.” CLINIC’s comments addressed concerns regarding the employment authorization process for approved VAWA beneficiaries, as well as the eligibility for employment authorization for battered spouses of A, E (iii), G, and H nonimmigrants. To read the full comments,

On October 23, 2012, CLINIC and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services in response to the Department’s amendment of the definition of the term “lawfully present.” The amendment will prevent those granted deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program from accessing affordable health insurance coverage options. Excluding DACA recipients from this program is inequitable and undercuts the spirit of the Administration’s DACA policy.

CLINIC and other organizations that help permanent residents naturalize and that promote the integration of newcomers sent the attached letter to Representative Nancy Pelosi, urging her to support appropriations funding for the U.S. Citizenship and Integration Grants Program. Since the program began in October 2009, USCIS’s Program has helped more than 38,000 permanent residents in 30 states and the District of Columbia prepare for citizenship. Twenty-six percent of the 2012 grantees are CLINIC affiliates.

Click here for a more detailed course outline including the dates and times of the seven webinars.

$270 per person for CLINIC affiliate agencies

$295 per person for other nonprofit agency staff

$425 per person for private attorneys and staff

This six-week training will explore the process of gaining permanent residence through a family relationship. We will cover which individuals are eligible based on family relationships, and how each step of the process works. Throughout the course, participants will review both the law and procedure for immigrating through a family relationship, including examination and critique of sample application forms. Topics covered will include: immediate relatives and the preference system, retention of priority dates, the Child Status Protection Act, immigrating through marriages, the affidavit of support, adjustment of status and consular processing. In addition, the first webinar of the course will provide an overview of DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

The course includes seven webinars conducted on consecutive Tuesdays at 2:00pm eastern time starting on October 16, 2012. Each webinar lasts approximately ninety minutes, and will be recorded and posted on the course website after the webinar is conducted. In addition to the weekly webinars, the e-learning course provides a variety of activities for self-directed learning, including reading assignments, exercises, reviewing sample applications, quizzes, and discussion questions. The course will be interactive, with opportunities for online and real-time discussion among students, and between the students and the instructors. The course requires a time commitment of approximately four hours per week for each of the six weeks of the course. Although we encourage participants to attend the live webinars each week, participants will be able to listen to and view recordings of the webinars on the course website. The instructors for this course are CLINIC attorneys Kristina Karpinski and Debbie Smith.

For a detailed course outline, including the dates and times of the required webinars, click here. Course participants are required to attend or view recordings of all course webinars in order to receive a course completion certificate at the end of the course. Before you register, please carefully consider the dates and times of the course webinars, as well as the additional time required each week for completion of the reading and assignments. Please note that in order to listen to the webinars, you will need either a speaker or a set of headphones for your computer. There will not be a telephone audio option.

Training Level:Introductory. This is an introduction to family-based immigration for the practitioner who already has some exposure to immigration law fundamentals. Basic familiarity with (a) immigration law vocabulary; (b) the ways in which an immigrant may gain legal status; and (c) the concepts of inadmissibility and deportability, is assumed.

Registration: The training is for the staff of Catholic Charities and other community-based organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, and attorneys and legal staff of private law offices. If you are registering as staff of a community-based organization, you must fax a copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) letter designating your agency as a nonprofit entity to CLINIC at 202-635-2649 to the attention of Andres Abella. Your registration will be confirmed upon receipt of this letter. If you are an attorney, please include your state bar number. Payment is by credit card only. Please note that only the person who registers for the training has authorized access to course webinars, the el-learning website and course materials.

Please be sure to register under the correct category and for the correct training. All registration changes or cancellations are subject to an administrative charge of $70.00. Please note that CLINIC can only issue refunds for an e-learning course until one week prior to the first day of the training.

Please note that we need the full name and a working email address for each individual taking this course. We will communicate with each registrant via email only, so it is very important that we have the correct name and email address for each registrant. On the registration form, please provide us the name and email address of the individual who will be taking the course.

Space is limited. The deadline for registration is October 12, 2012, or sooner if registration is filled. For registration information contact Andres Abella at aabella@cliniclegal.org. For questions about the course content, please contact Kristina Karpinski at kkarpinski@cliniclegal.org.

CLE: CLINIC is authorized by the State Bar of California to provide minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) trainings. E-learning participants are eligible to claim 1.5 hours of MCLE credits per webinar for the webinar component of our e-learning immigration law courses. If you are an attorney licensed in another state, please check with your state bar to determine whether this training qualifies for MCLE credit.

K-1, K-2, K-3, K-4, CR-1, CR-2-if you know these immigration codes, you know they represent fiancé(e)s and their derivatives; beneficiaries of I-130s filed by U.S. citizen spouses and their derivatives; and conditional resident spouses and children. But what else do you know about these categories? This webinar will review who qualifies to come to the U.S. as a fiancé(e), who qualifies to be a fiancé(e) petitioner and the requirements for a fiancé(e) to adjust to permanent residence. We will also cover the requirements for K-3 and K-4 visas and discuss recent Board of Immigration Appeals cases on K-4 adjustments. A review of conditional resident spouses and children including how and when they should apply to remove the conditions on residency will also be included. Join CLINIC Attorneys Debbie Smith and Kristina Karpinski as we discuss these various options for Immigration Through Marriage.

Click here for a more detailed course outline including the dates and times of the seven webinars.

$270 per person for CLINIC affiliate agencies

$295 per person for other nonprofit agency staff

$425 per person for private attorneys and staff

Immediate relatives will soon be able to file their waiver for unlawful presence in the United States before leaving for consular processing. This change to pre-adjudication is scheduled to go into effect soon, and it has already generated much interest and increased demand for services. But to effectively represent this client community practitioners need to know the fundamentals of inadmissibility so they can identify all the possible grounds. To prepare for this increased demand, practitioners will need to know whether or not their clients are inadmissible, and whether they qualify for this special pre-adjudication procedure.

This six-week training on the grounds of inadmissibility provides an in-depth examination of the concept of inadmissibility. The training will cover when and to whom inadmissibility applies. Course participants will study in detail selected grounds of inadmissibility including unlawful presence and other immigration violations; misrepresentation and false claims to citizenship; smuggling; unlawful voting; crimes; and health-based grounds. We will also discuss effective interviewing and client counseling techniques. While we will touch on the waivers available for some of these grounds, we will not look closely at waivers and how to apply for them; CLINIC’s e-learning course on waivers covers those.

The course requires a time commitment of approximately four hours per week for each of the six weeks of the course. This time will be spent in different activities, including reading assignments, exercises, and participation in seven webinars conducted on consecutive Wednesdays, as listed in the detailed course schedule. The course will be interactive, with opportunities for online and real-time discussion among students, and between the students and the instructors. The instructors for this course will be CLINIC attorneys Jennie Guilfoyle and Charles Wheeler.

For a detailed course outline, including the dates and times of the live webinars, click here. Course participants are required to attend or view recordings of all course webinars in order to receive a course completion certificate at the end of the course. Before you register, please carefully consider the dates and times of the scheduled webinars, as well as the additional time required each week for completion of the reading and assignments. Please note that in order to listen to the webinars, you will need either a speaker or a set of headphones for your computer. There will not be a telephone audio option.

Registration: The training is for the staff of Catholic Charities and other community-based organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, and attorneys and legal staff of private law offices. If you are registering as staff of a community-based organization, you must fax a copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) letter designating your agency as a tax-exempt nonprofit entity to Andres Abella at 202-635-2649. Your registration will be confirmed upon receipt of this letter. If you are an attorney, please include your state bar number. Payment is by credit card only.

Please be sure to register under the correct category and for the correct training. All registration changes or cancellations are subject to an administrative charge of $70.00. Please note that CLINIC can only issue refunds for an e-learning course until one week prior to the first day of the training.

Please provide the full name and a working email address for each individual taking this course. We will communicate with each registrant via email only, so it is very important that we have the correct name and email address for each registrant. On the registration form, please provide us the name and email address of the individual who will be taking the course.

Space is limited. The deadline for registration is September 21, 2012, or sooner if registration is filled. For registration information contact Andres Abella at 202-756-5523 or at aabella@cliniclegal.org. For questions about the course content, please contact Jennie Guilfoyle at jguilfoyle@cliniclegal.org.

CLE: CLINIC is authorized by the State Bar of California to provide minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) trainings. E-learning participants are eligible to claim 1.5 hours of MCLE credits per webinar for the webinar component of our e-learning immigration law courses. If you are an attorney licensed in another state, please check with your state bar to determine whether this training qualifies for MCLE credit.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) signed onto this letter July 23, 2012 urging members of Congress to support the Help Separated Families Act, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-34). The bill aims to improve the likelihood that children placed in the child welfare system as a result of immigration enforcement actions against their parents can ultimately reunify with their parents.

On Monday, June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its 5-3 ruling on Arizona's state immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. What did the Court hold? What does it mean? What are the potential ramifications for "copycat" laws in other states? What's next for advocacy?

On Monday, June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its 5-3 ruling on Arizona's state immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. What did the Court hold? What does it mean? What are the potential ramifications for "copycat" laws in other states? What's next for advocacy?

Join the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) and a panel of distinguished guests for a webinar on Friday, July 13, 2-3:30pmEST.

$250 per person from affiliate agencies; $750 cap ($50 materials fee for each additional staff from the same office location)

$275 per person for other non-profit agency staff; $825 cap($50 materials fee per person for more than 3 attendees from the same office site)

$405 per person for private attorneys and staff

Optional: Additional $25 fee per person for round-trip transportation to National Visa Center in Portsmouth

Continental breakfast and lunch included on July 10th and 11th.

This intensive two day training will provide updated information on selected topics in family-based immigration, including the new proposed provisional waiver of the unlawful presence ground of inadmissibility. We will discuss who may seek a provisional waiver in the U.S. and the proposed new form and process. The training will also cover: establishing qualifying family relationships for relative petitions; priority date retention and conversion; the Child Status Protection Act; relief available to widows and other surviving relatives following the death of the petitioner or principal beneficiary; adjustment of status and consular processing; completing the affidavit of support; select inadmissibility issues; filing effective inadmissibility waivers and ethics in family-based immigration.

The training will be presented by CLINIC attorneys Kristina Karpinski and Debbie Smith. A representative from the USCIS office in New Hampshire has also been invited to participate.

The training will also feature an optional tour of the National Visa Center in Portsmouth, NH on July 12th and a question and answer session with NVC Director Kimberly Kelly. Space for the NVC visit is limited to the first 38 people who register for the tour.

Training Level: Note that this is not an introductory training and is not geared to new practitioners. Please review the agenda before registering; the training is conducted at a level that assumes participants have a basic understanding of family-based immigration law and procedure.

The training is for the staff of Catholic Charities and other community-based organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, and attorneys and legal staff of private law offices. If you are registering as staff of a community-based organization, you must fax a copy of you IRS 501(c)(3) letter designating your agency as a nonprofit entity to CLINIC at 202 635-2649 to the attention of Andres Abella. Your registration will be confirmed upon receipt of this letter. If you are an attorney, please include your state bar number. Payment is by credit card only. Please be sure to register under the correct category and for the correct training. All registration changes or cancellations are subject to an administrative charge of $70.00.

Space for the July 10-11 training is limited to 40 participants. The deadline for registration is July 3rd or sooner if registration is filled. For registration information contact: Dinah Suncin at dsuncin@cliniclegal.org.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the rate of $99.00 plus tax at the following hotel under the name “Catholic Legal” or code CLI. Make reservations early, the rate is only guaranteed until June 19th.

Holiday Inn Express1298 South Porter StreetManchester, NH603-669-6800Hotel can provide transportation to & from the airport and to the training site.Close to Shopping Mall and many restaurants

On April 25, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Arizona v. United States, a case involving the legal challenge to Arizona's restrictive state immigration enforcement law "SB 1070." The U.S.

Cost: Free On April 25, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Arizona v. United States, a case involving the legal challenge to Arizona's restrictive state immigration enforcement law "SB 1070." The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted a "friend of the court" brief in the case, supporting the United States in challenging the law. What did the Bishops say in their brief? What are the interests of the Catholic Church when states choose to enforce federal immigration law on their own terms? What is wrong with a policy of "attrition through enforcement"?

This webinar - held just two days after oral arguments - will discuss all of these issues and more. How did the Justices react to arguments by both sides? What is really at stake? The webinar will place the legal arguments over SB 1070 in the context of new ways that states and localities are proposing to get more active on immigration. It will give you a chance to hear more about state and local immigration enforcement and to ask questions directly of CLINIC's Karen Lucas and USCCB's Sara Ibrahim.

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) submitted these comments on March 30, 2012 in response to the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) proposal to amend the regulations governing the recognition of organizations and accreditation of representatives who appear before EOIR.

CLINIC hosted a webinar to train users of CLINIC's new web-based State & Local Immigration Policy Map. The Map offers CLINIC's many state-specific resources on policy proposals affecting immigrants and their families. This webinar will be free and open to the public. During this fully interactive training, participants experienced a real-time demonstration of the Map's capabilities, received step-by-step instruction in finding materials, asked questions of CLINIC's State & Local Advocacy Attorney Karen Lucas and CLINIC's Communications

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, along with other faith-based, human rights, immigrant advocacy, and legal service organizations expressed thir support for expanding the Legal Orientation Program (LOP), a program within the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Since its launch in 2003, LOP has generated bipartisan support because of its proven track record in reducing court processing times and making the detention and immigration court process more efficient.

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) submits these comments in response to the request for public comment by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in advance of its two public meetings on the agency's proposal to amend the regulations governing the recognition of organizations and accreditation of representatives who appear before EOIR.

On November 20, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new immigration enforcement priorities in a memorandum entitled Policies for the Apprehension, Detention, and Removal of Undocumented Immigrants. The guidance sets forth factors DHS should consider when deciding whether an individual is an enforcement priority or warrants a favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion. The government documents, articles, sample requests and motions, and other materials contained in this toolkit will help advocates understand prosecutorial discretion policies ---- who can benefit, what is the process, and how to assist clients both before and after the issuance of the Notice to Appear.

West Coast Mennonite Central Committee, a CLINIC subscriber, has two position openings immediately available for and Legal Services Advisor and.. Staff Associate for Immigration (caseworker) (both Bilingual).

If you are an undocumented alien who is arrested by the police and during booking you lie and state you were born in the United States, is that a false claim of citizenship for immigration purposes? The Third Circuit Court of Appeals held that it was not and overturned the BIA and immigration judge, who held that it was.

This month, CLINIC's Advocacy staff is working on several issues with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and we need to hear from you! Is there a detention facility in your area that doesn't allow detainees to make telephone calls to 800 numbers? Do you have examples of ICE conducting enforcement actions in "sensitive locations" such as schools, places of worship, funerals or others places where children and families are present? Contact me at aposner@cliniclegal.org or 202-635-2567.

On February 6, CLINIC launched its new, interactive web feature highlighting state and local immigration initiatives across the country. This feature is publically available for free, thanks to a grant from the Ford Foundation.

What can be done to temporarily stop removal proceedings while awaiting the adjudication of a visa petition, naturalization application, TPS application, or other benefit? An individual in removal proceedings can request a brief rescheduling or continuance of the hearing or the administrative closure of the case. The Board of Immigration Appeals recently revised the rules affecting administrative closure in a decision issued on January 31, 2012, Matter of Avetisyan, 25 I&N Dec. 688 (BIA 2012).

Thank you for participating in the BIA Pro Bono Appeals Project! The benefits of your time, legal background, and research skills will have a significant impact on an immigrant who would otherwise face a complex legal struggle alone.

What happens next: decision by the Board

Scan or fax a redacted copy of the brief to the Project

As part of this Project, we are continuing to develop our brief bank. Therefore, we ask that once you submit your brief to the BIA, please send a redacted version of the brief as an e-mail attachment to lsullivan@cliniclegal.org or via fax at 202-756-5537.

The attorney formats the brief in accordance with the BIA Practice Manual

BIA PRACTICE TIPS

Time to write the brief (Brief Bank)

CLINIC provides full legal support for BIA Pro Bono Project cases. We also have volunteer mentors from around the country who have offered to answer any substantive legal questions about the cases and offer legal guidance to our volunteers. Please contact the Project Coordinator at lsullivan@cliniclegal.org if you would like additional guidance.

Once the attorney receives the respondent’s consent, the attorney files the entry of appearance with the BIA

CLINIC sends a packet to the Respondent requesting consent

CLINIC will send a packet to the respondent that explains the BIA Project. The packet includes: 1) a letter explaining the project; 2) a consent checklist; and 3) a notice for respondent to update us of any address changes.

On Thursday, March 1, 2-3pm EST, CLINIC will host a webinar to train users of CLINIC's new web-based State & Local Immigration Policy Map. The Map offers CLINIC's many state-specific resources on policy proposals affecting immigrants and their families. This webinar will be free and open to the public. During this fully interactive training, participants will experience a real-time demonstration of the Map's capabilities, receive step-by-step instruction in finding materials, and be able to ask questions of CLINIC's State & Local Advocacy Attorney Karen Lucas and CLINIC's Communications Officer/Web Content Coordinator Tessa Winkler. Learn how to search for and compare CLINIC's analyses of similar but different state harboring laws and learn whether federal courts have blocked them. Compare two states' omnibus immigration enforcement bills before an upcoming hearing. Find a one-page Q&A to help you explain a bill to those who may be impacted by it. This training will help you do it all!

"We call on the administration to prioritize release of immigrant families in all cases. Weurge the administration to assign social workers to manage familiesʼ cases rather thanplacing them in detention. For families without housing, the administration shouldpartner with non-profit shelter or child welfare organizations experienced in supportingasylum-seeking and immigrant families to resolve any issues preventing the directrelease of families. Social workers with proven track records providing family and child

The undersigned members of the ICLN and other interested parties are writing in response to the regulations proposed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) on September 6,2011, regarding Special Immigrant Juvenile Petitions. While we applaud the proposedregulations’ provisions reflecting the statutory language updated by the William WilberforceTrafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, we have significant concerns aboutmuch of the proposed regulatory language, as well as the commentary accompanying the

Do you have clients who are consular processing in Cd. Juarez? On November 17, 2011 officials from the US consulate and the USCIS field office located at CDJ provided updated information on the processing of both immigrant visa and waiver applications. If you were not present at that annual conference in El Paso and would like to learn the latest updated information, tune into this webinar. Panelists will be CLINIC attorneys Susan Schreiber and Charles Wheeler. The topics that will be covered include the submission of the new DS-260 application, electronic processing of documents, changes in consular processing, current and anticipated changes in filing of waiver applications, current processing times and approval rates, and tips on submitting a successful waiver packet.

In August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would exercise prosecutorial discretion in 300,000 pending immigration removal cases. And it recently announced plans to implement that plan and train DHS staff. CLINIC’s Advocacy staff is interested in hearing from you about your experiences with requesting prosecutorial discretion in your cases. Please contact me at aposner@cliniclegal.org to share your experiences regarding the merits of your clients’ cases and how the government responded to your reque

The highlight of CLINIC’s annual family immigration law training in El Paso on November 16-17, 2011 was a presentation by consular and USCIS officials. Catherine Holt, Chief of the Immigrant Visa (IV) Section, and Yolanda Miranda, Field Office Director at the USCIS office located at the consulate, each spoke and then answered questions for over two hours. The following is a summary of the information they provided at the conference and during the consular tour on November 18th.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Justice for Immigrants (JFI) Campaign will be holding its “Pray for the DREAM” events from September 18th through October 9th. Dioceses, parishes and other faith groups will be planning events and/or incorporating petitions, homilies, and prayers into the Sunday Masses in support of DREAM Act eligible students and youth.

Throughout the month of August, the Task Force on Secure Communities held a series of four public meetings in Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; and Arlington, VA. CLINIC staff and/or affiliates were in attendance at each, and many who were not able to attend a Task Force meeting shared their concerns in response to the call for public comments. The Task Force is expected to release its report and recommendations by the end of September.

On August 18, 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held a telephonic meeting announcing the process for exercising prosecutorial discretion in the 300,000 immigration removal cases currently pending in the United States.

$250 per person from CLINIC affiliate programs; $750 cap for 3 staff ($65 materials fee per person for more than 3 attendees from the same office site)

$275 per person for other non-profit agency staff; $825 cap for 3 staff ($65 materials fee per person for more than 3 attendees from the same office site)

$405 per person for private attorneys and staff

Continental breakfast and lunch is included.

This intensive two-day training will provide an overview of how to determine whether your client’s criminal record will have immigration consequences, including exposure to removal or ineligibility for a particular benefit under immigration law. The trainers will discuss the concepts involved in analyzing the immigration consequences of crimes including differentiating between inadmissibility and deportability; statutory definitions of conviction and sentence; and exceptions to crime-based inadmissibility. The training will also cover techniques for screening clients to uncover criminal issues, and how to gather and read criminal records. The training will focus on crimes involving moral turpitude, drug and domestic violence offenses and aggravated felonies among other categories of crimes. Through the use of both lecture and exercises, participants will learn how to analyze the potential immigration consequences of criminal convictions or certain criminal conduct. The trainers for this program are CLINIC attorneys Sarah Bronstein and Debbie Smith.

Is This Training Right for You?

This is an introductory training on immigration consequences of crimes designed for the practitioner who has a background in immigration law but is new to this area. This training is also appropriate for criminal attorneys seeking to learn about immigration consequences of crimes. For more information about CLINIC’s training classifications, see our website.

The training is for the staff of Catholic Charities and other community-based organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, and attorneys and legal staff of private law offices. If you are registering as staff of a community-based organization, you must fax a copy of you IRS 501(c)(3) letter designating your agency as a nonprofit entity to CLINIC at 415-394-8696 to the attention of Chris Ozaki. Your registration will be confirmed upon receipt of this letter. If you are an attorney, please include your state bar number. Payment is by credit card only.

Space is limited to 50 participants. The deadline for registration is November 9, 2011 or sooner if registration is filled. For registration information call: Chris Ozaki 415-394-9371

This tool kit provides an overview of the Criminal Alien Program, the Secure Communities Program, and the 287(g) Program. It also recommends strategies to advocate against the implementation and halt the continuation of these programs in communities.

Click on the links below to view our most recent posts (organized by state).

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) submits these comments in response to the request for public comments by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Policy Memorandum, PM-602-0039, The Role of USCIS District Directors in the Board of Immigration Appeals Recognition and Accreditation Process; Revisions to the Adjudicator’s Field Manual, New Chapter 12.6, AFM Update AD 11-34. Click here (pdf) for the full letter.

Our Mission

Embracing the Gospel value of welcoming the stranger, CLINIC promotes the dignity and protects the rights of immigrants in partnership with a dedicated network of Catholic and community legal immigration programs.